Help us make a difference!

Basketball

Special Olympics athletes Nick Van Denburgh of Minnesota and Michael Reed of New Jersey tip off at the 2013 Special Olympics Unified Sports Basketball Game at the NBA All Star Weekend. Photo by Will Schermerhorn

Basketball is a favorite Special Olympics sport. This basketball sport center draws together sport news and stories, upcoming events and links to the Special Olympics Basketball Coaching Guide.

Basketball is one of the top sports at Special Olympics. Players take it up at all ages and at all abilities, from young players learning to handle the ball and keep it under control while dribbling to older, more experienced players who have the moves and know the strategies to play challenging ball.

It's also one of the favorite sports for the Special Olympics Unified Sports initiative, when players with and without intellectual disabilities form teams to play other unified teams. It's a learning experience that's also a lot of fun.

Quizzes

February 03, 2015 | North America: Ohio

How My Career in Special Olympics began

By Devon Deer

Hello my career in Special Olympics began five years ago in Springfield Ohio when I asked about the game of basketball if it was with in the Clark County Special Olympic Program. It was!View Story ▼Hello my career in Special Olympics began five years ago in Springfield Ohio when I asked about the game of basketball if it was with in the Clark County Special Olympic Program. It was and besides basketball, I've been involved in Volleyball and Softball and Bowling. I'm a five time medalist, three silver and two gold, and I'm proud to be a part of Special Olympics. I hope I keep on going.

About Devon Deer:Hi im Devon Deer from Springfield Ohio and i'm happy to a part of Special Olympics

January 19, 2015 | Europe Eurasia: Serbia

Top club Red Star Telekom welcomes Special Olympics Serbia players

By Milana Jeremic

Special Olympics Serbia players and coaches spend day with top club Red Star Telekom.

On 9 January 2015 Special Olympics Serbia and Red Star Telekom Basketball Club continued their joint efforts to raise awareness about people with intellectual disability in Serbia while promoting Special Olympics Serbia athletes.View Story ▼On 9 January 2015 Special Olympics Serbia and Red Star Telekom Basketball Club continued their joint efforts to raise awareness about people with intellectual disability in Serbia while promoting Special Olympics Serbia athletes. The event, as part of Christmas celebrations and the second to be organized, saw top Red Star players welcome 20 young Special Olympics players and involve them in warm-up and skills development on court. Off court, professional basketball specialists and coaches from the team discussed basketball rules as well as the rich history of Red Star. The best indicator that the presenters had their listeners’ full attention was during a quiz that followed. The teams were divided into boys and girls and there was a real battle for points. In the end, the girls triumphed with only half a point more. The boys did not seem to be too sad because they had spent such a great day with their sports heroes.

About Milana Jeremic:Milana Jeremic is National Administrator of Special Olympics Serbia.

January 08, 2015 | North America: North Carolina

Tar Heells JV Team Scrimmages Special Olympics NC Athletes

By Megan ODonnell

UNC JV basketball player tries to defend Special Olympics Orange Cty player in a Unified scrimmage.

Special Olympics NC arranged for a unique opportunity for some Special Olympics Orange County (Chapel Hill) athletes on Jan. 5, 2015. The Special Olympics Orange County Bulls Basketball Team went to the Dean Smith Center and scrimmaged the UNC Tar Heels Men’s JV Team.View Story ▼Special Olympics NC arranged for a unique opportunity for some Special Olympics Orange County (Chapel Hill) athletes on Jan. 5, 2015. The Special Olympics Orange County Bulls Basketball Team went to the Dean Smith Center and scrimmaged the UNC Tar Heels Men’s JV Team. The Bulls were treated to their own locker room in the Smith Center upon arrival and this certainly helped make the afternoon one to remember!
For the first 20 minutes, the two teams scrimmaged each other and the game was quite close! At half time, the two teams intermixed with each other creating Unified Teams and then played another 20 minutes. The game was incredibly close with one team winning by 1 point. A great time was had all the players! They were equally impressed with each other’s skill set and shooting prowess. Some of the UNC Men’s “Varsity” team came out to watch the game and too!! There was a lot of cheering going on by all involved!

About Megan ODonnell:VP of communications for Special Olympics North Carolina

Do You Have a Story to Share?

Got news or a great basketball story to share? Share with our online form.

Upcoming Basketball Events

Date

Event

Location

March 07, 2015

Special Olympics North Carolina West Basketball Tournament

Come and cheer on our athletes as they demonstrate their courage and determination for a day basketball competition. This event will be held on March 7th at various locations throughout Charlotte, North Carolina. Support our athletes and experience sports in its truest form. For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationMore DetailsMegan O'Donnell Email:modonnell@sonc.netPhone:919-818-4598View More

Various Locations in CharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaUNITED STATES

Mar 7 - 8 2015

St. Louis & Southeast - Regional Basketball Tournament

Join us March 7-8 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri for the St. Louis & Southeast Regional Basketball Tournament. Basketball competition will be held at the following locations: SEMO, Osage Center and Cape School District. The Opening Ceremony will be held on March 7th at 6 p.m. and competition will begin March 8th at 8 a.m. Attention volunteers! We need people to run check-in and serve as scorekeepers, awards assistants and individual skills assistants. No experience is necessary as we will provide training on site. Most shifts are four hours, and each volunteer receives a free T-shirt. Please use the link below to go to the Special Olympics Missouri for information on how to volunteer for this event. For more informationMore DetailsSusan ShafferEmail:shaffer@somo.orgView More

Jefferson City - Regional Basketball

Join us Saturday, March 7th in Jefferson City, Missouri for the Jefferson City Regional Basketball Tournament. Basketball competition will be held at the following locations: First Baptist Church (301 E Capitol Ave); Lewis & Clark Middle School (325 Lewis and Clark Dr); Simonsen Ninth Grade Center (501 E Miller St), Thomas Jefferson Middle Scool (1201 Fairgrounds Rd) and Trinity Lutheran Church (803 Swifts Hwy). Competition will begin at 8am and go through 6pm. Attention volunteers! We need people to run check-in and serve as scorekeepers, awards assistants and individual skills assistants. No experience is necessary as we will provide training on site. Most shifts are four hours, and each volunteer receives a free T-shirt. Please use the link below to go to the Special Olympics Missouri for information on how to volunteer for this event.
For more informationMore DetailsSusan ShafferEmail:Shaffer@somo.orgPhone:573-635-1660View More

Jefferson CityJefferson City, MissouriUNITED STATES

Mar 13 - 15 2015

Illinois State Basketball Tournament

What is State Basketball? State Basketball is one of 9 state sports competitions. It is the culminating competition for those participating in team and individual skills basketball. State Basketball is hosted at Horton Fieldhouse – ISU and the Shirk Center- IWU. Approximately 1,540 athletes will compete in this 3-day event and show off their winning form! The State Basketball Tournament is supported, in part, by a grant from the Shirk Family Foundation. Hope to see you there!For more informationMore DetailsDavid ShindleyEmail:dshindley@soill.orgPhone:309-888-2551View More

ISU & IWU CampusBloomington, IllinoisUNITED STATES

March 14, 2015

Traditional Basketball Tournament

Come and cheer on our athletes as the demonstrate their grit and determination for a day basketball tournament. This event will be held on March 14th at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Support our athletes and experience sports in its truest form. For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationSpecial Olympics ConnecticutEmail:specialolympicsct@soct.orgPhone:203-230-1201View More

Holy Cross High SchoolWaterbury, ConnecticutUNITED STATES

March 14, 2015

Second Annual Basketball Invitational

Join on us on March 14th at Bees Landing Rec Center and West Ashley in Charleston, South Carolina as our athletes compete and show their skill in basketball competition. Events will include: Youth and adult – traditional skills; 3 vs 3; traditional 5 vs 5; Unified 3 vs 3 and Unified 5 vs 5. In addition this event, we will be hosting opening ceremonies and a dance at Bees Landing Rec Center on Friday March 13th at 6pm.For more informationJennifer TissotEmail:MOLIZONJ@charleston-sc.govPhone:843-708-3651View More

Bees Landing Rec Center & West Ashley High SchoolCharleston, South CarolinaUNITED STATES

March 14, 2015

SONC East Basketball Tournament

Come and cheer on our athletes as the demonstrate their grit and determination for a day basketball competition. This event will be held on March 14th at various locations throughout Kenly, Micro, Selma and Smithfield, North Carolina. Support our athletes and experience sports in its truest form.For more informationMore DetailsMegan O'Donnell Email:modonnell@sonc.netPhone:919-818-4598View More

Various LocationsKenly, Micro, Selma, Smithfield, North CarolinaUNITED STATES

Mar 19 - 21 2015

State Basketball & Cheerleading

Join us on March 19-21 at Ft. Hays State University in Hays, Kansas as our athletes compete and show their skill during the Special Olympics Kansas State Basketball & Cheerleading Tournament. For more information about the tournament see the contact info and link below. Hope to see you there!For more informationMore DetailsTim RehderEmail:rehdert@ksso.orgView More

Ft Hays State UniversityHays, KansasUNITED STATES

Mar 20 - 21 2015

Virginia Basketball Championships

It's March Madness Special Olympics Virginia style! Don't miss a moment of our annual Basketball Championships in Stafford, including the GEICO All-Star Friday Night basketball challenge, athlete and coach shootouts, the Victory Dance, plus skills, half court, and full court action all day Saturday. Event Volunteer roles are covered by Stafford County schools, but we need FANS for our athletes! Make Basketball Championships special - Volunteer 2 Cheer! Visit volunteer2cheer.com to sign up to be a fan and support our athletes with your cheers.For more informationView More

Stafford County SchoolsStafford, VirginiaUNITED STATES

Mar 21 - 22 2015

2015 Basketball Tournament

Join us 21-22 March 2015 in Frederick, Maryland as over 400 athletes and 70 Unified partners from around the state compete in two days of basketball tournament action. Events will include 5 v. 5 traditional competition and well as 5 v. 5 Unified competition. For schedule and location details please refer to link below.For more informationSchedule DetailsMike CzarnowskyEmail:mczarnowsky@somd.orgPhone:410-242-1515View More

Hood College401 Rosemont AveFrederick, MarylandUNITED STATES

Mar 27 - 29 2015

Missouri State Indoor Games

The 2015 State Indoor Games will be held at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from March 27-29. Competition will begin at 8 a.m. on March 27th and go until 6 p.m on March 29th. The sports offered are basketball and bowling. Athletes are allowed to participate in both of these sports.For more informationMore DetailsSusan ShafferEmail:shaffer@somo.orgPhone:573-635-1660 View More

Fort Leonard WoodFort Leonard Wood, MissouriUNITED STATES

Mar 27 - 28 2015

State Basketball Finals

Approximately 530 athletes and 170 coaches/chaperones participate in the state basketball finals each year. This tournament includes competition for senior male, female and skills athletes. Competition begins on Friday, March 27 and continues through Saturday, March 28. The Opening Ceremony and Victory Dance is March 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.For more informationComplete ScheduleAaron MillsEmail:aaron.mills@somi.orgPhone:989-774-4393View More

Rockford High School, Freshman Center and North Middle SchoolRockford, MichiganUNITED STATES

May 13 - 15 2015

Oklahoma State Summer Games

Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes numbering in the thousands will meet in Stillwater in May for Summer Games. Staff and hundreds of volunteers are on hand to make sure athletes have three days full of competitions, Olympic-style ceremonies, Olympic Village, food, housing and many fun activities. Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes will compete in nine sports: Athletics (Track and Field), Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Horseshoes, Powerlifting, Unified 3-on-3 Basketball, and Unified Softball. Other events include Motor Activities and Stars of the Future.For more informationMore DetailsView More

Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, OklahomaUNITED STATES

Jun 4 - 6 2015

Pennsylvania State Summer Games

The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games will be held at Penn State University in State College. The event will together over 2,000 athletes and 750 coaches from across the state. This is our largest event of the year. The Summer Games will feature three days of intense competition in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis. Every race, every game, every competition held at Summer Games represents many weeks of training, preparation and dedication on the part of our athletes, coaches and volunteers. Spectators are welcome to visit any of the competition venues and cheer on the athletes.For more informationMore DetailsView More

Penn State UniversityState College, PennsylvaniaUNITED STATES

Jun 19 - 20 2015

Idaho State Summer Games

Come and cheer on our athletes during our State Summer Games as they demonstrate their courage and determination for 2 days of sport competition in athletics, basketball, aquatics, cycling and powerlifting. This event will be held on June 19-20 at in Moscow, Idaho. Support our athletes and experience sports in its truest form. For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationMore DetailsSpecial Olympics IdahoPhone:800-915-6510View More

Moscow, IdahoUNITED STATES

Jul 24 - Aug 2 2015

World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015

In July of 2015 more than 7,000 athletes from 170 countries will come to Los Angeles, California for the Special Olympics World Summer Games and enjoy 10 days full of joy, friendship and competition. Athletes will compete in 22 sports. The event expects to attract 500,000 spectators and 30,000 volunteers and 3,000 coaches.For more informationMore DetailsWorld Summer Games Los Angeles 2015Email:info@la2015.orgPhone:213-892-6018View More

Various Locations, Los AngelesLos Angeles , CaliforniaUNITED STATES

November 07, 2015

Coaches Training - Conference

Join us on November 7th at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. This coaches training will cover the following sports: poly hockey, bowling, basketball, and Winter Games sports. To register for this event please use the link below. If you have further question please contact Zach Warner at warne1zd@cmich.edu.For more informationMore DetailsZach WarnerEmail:warne1zd@cmich.eduView More

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.